Relationships

Life is an interesting thing. I am constantly surprised by life and watching people live it. This is the season of weddings and working at a Biblical university means that there is a large portion of the student body getting married during their time here. I would imagine that all but 10% of the men in my graduating class were either married or engaged by graduation. At times this really bothered me, and when my student workers approach me about their relationships, which is somewhat inevitable, I always try to give them good advise. It isn't always easy, I am an observer of human nature and life, but I have not yet been on a date myself. So my advise doesn't necessarily have personal experience behind it.

I just read an interview from E-harmony with Steve Harvey, and it was something that I wish my school and church would talk about at an earlier stage in most of these students lives. His advise is biblically sound (for the most part, however the Bible does preach total abstinence before marriage not 90 days), and just very practical. I dearly wish I had this advise when I worked with Student Life.

So for now I will continue to observe and to understand, but I just thought this article was something that should be shared. It is hard for women my age in the church to find a spouse within the walls of the church. Most men my age are out "sowing their wild oats" and do not generally come back to the fold until a relationship brings them there. So many of my unmarried friends are disappointed with relationships but constantly longing for one. Maybe some of this advise might be good for them.

Computers and Libraries 2009 or What I think I may have learned...

~Blogging is Dead...sort of.
~Twitter is dead...sort of.
~Second Life is dead...yes (and thank heavens.)
~Usability is Alive...let the people rejoice.
~Web 2.0 is dying...well sort of.
~Facebook apps are either the best thing ever...or they are the kiss of death.
~We live in a post-desktop world, mobility is key.
~RFID tags will be everywhere (and in everything) so if you think we are currently living in the the land of too much information can be answered in the over used phrase "You ain't seen nothing yet."
~The Library world needs to create custom API's that users will love to use.
~Open source all knowledge.
~Create an environment that encourages learning.
~We need to re-think the Learning commons.
~Librarians need to be "Live-brarians."
~We have 2 ears and 1 mouth. Listen more than you talk.
~Make your library utterly irresistible and desirable.
~Teach your patrons to focus again.
~Test your labels. Change the environments.

These are just a few of the big ideas represented by the workshop and keynote leaders during the 2009 conference. Having never attended this event before I can state that I would love to go back and see what predictions for applications from this year will be on the chopping block at the next conference.

I took a lot of notes, I have complied a massive book list. Now I must take the information from this conference and try to assess what will work for my university and library. Watch for more to come, I am still digesting.

P.S. Apparently trips to Karaoke night are dangerous...